Ready Set Grow in Newport partners with Casella

NEWPORT — Ready Set Grow Center for Early Childhood Education opened in Newport this past September thanks to the support of many community and state-wide partners.

Locally, Casella Waste Systems came on board as a strong supporter early on.

Michelle Faust, Executive Director of Northeast Kingdom Learning Services, the organization that both created and oversees Ready Set Grow, says she understands the importance of collaboration in order to make life in the Northeast Kingdom viable for families.

“NEKLS, Inc. is grateful to Casella for their generous donation in supporting the opening of Ready, Set, Grow Childcare Center,” said Faust.

Casella and its subsidiary company New England Waste Services of Vermont (NEWSVT) which owns and operates the Coventry landfill, donated $10,000 to Ready Set Grow to support the startup of the center this past fall.

With Casella’s support, the center is looking forward to having all rooms open with full enrollment by the end of February.

“We were blown away by Michelle’s vision for the center and knew we wanted to help in any way possible,” said Jeff Weld Director of Community Engagement at Casella. “To see her vision come to life has been amazing. We are so honored to be a part of this vibrant community and to play a small role in helping this vital asset come to life.”

Faust says she feels that Casella’s commitment to community, employees, and children is to be applauded.

“If we want a thriving economy, we must recognize the important role that employers can play in supporting their employees that have children that need childcare,” she said. “High-quality childcare is costly, ask any working parent how much of their paycheck goes to provide care for their children.”

Ready Set Grow provides childcare in-house along with services from Northeast Kingdom Community Action Headstart.

Meals are provided through a collaboration with Umbrella’s Cornucopia Program and The Northeast Kingdom Children’s Museum will open in 2020.

For more information or to enroll your child, call 802 995-2051.

Are you on Instagram? Cool. So are we. CLICK HERE to follow us for a behind the scenes look at Newport Dispatch.